Benefits of Getting a Weekly Massage


Assessing Whether Massages Would be Good For You


Research on Benefits of an Infrared Sauna


Carpal Tunnel
Syndrome


Are You Tense?  All About Tension!


Stressed? 
Try a massage!


Employer
Benefits of On-Site/Corporate Chair Massage


Pregnancy Massage -
Does it Help?


The Art of Chinese Cupping


Why do we
have muscles?


Research Shows Benefits of Massage Therapy


Laugh Away Stress


Benefits of Massage for Elderly People

 

 

Read about a research study conducted on the benefits of massage therapy to alleviate carpal tunnel syndrome.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a phrase that is frequently tossed around.  But, do you really know what it means and how it may affect you?

 

For most people, the cause of their carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is unknown. Any condition that exerts pressure on the median nerve at the wrist can cause carpal tunnel syndrome. Common conditions that can lead to CTS include obesity, pregnancy, hypothyroidism, arthritis, diabetes, and trauma. Tendon inflammation resulting from repetitive work, such as uninterrupted typing, can also cause carpal tunnel symptoms.

 

Early detection and diagnosis of CTS can possibly help you determine the cause and prevent it from getting worse.

 

The muscles in your wrist tighten over a period of time and compress the median nerve, which runs from your shoulder down through your forearm, splitting off midway inside your hand to each finger.  The primary symptoms of CTS are numbness, tingling, weakness, burning and pain from the outside of your wrist closest to your pinky to your middle finger and all the area of your palm in between.  You might also have a sense of tightness deep in the middle of your palm and wrist. If you have CTS or think might be getting it, massage therapy may help provide relief and potentially reverse it.

 

The best types of massage therapy for CTS involves Swedish and Deep Tissue.  A suggested massage session would include:

 

·         Massaging the wrist (breaking down the adhesions to relieve pain).

 

·         Performing long strokes up the flexors of the forearm.
·         Use gentle, passive range of motion exercises on the wrist (a therapist
          moves a persons joint through the range of motion to stretch the
          muscles without the patient engaging any muscles or exerting any
          effort).

 

·         Stretch the forearm flexors by extending the fingers, hand, wrist, and
           elbow, while also using gliding strokes on the flexors

 

Continue this regimen approximately 3-4 times per month until desired comfort level has been achieved.

 

By following this recommended program, you may experience the following results:

 

·         Restore normal movement in your hands, wrists and fingers.

·         Helps to reduce pain, increase grip strength, and reduce carpal tunnel
          symptoms.

·         Reduction of pressure on the nerve from inflamed tendons within the
          carpal tunnel and excessive fluid in the wrist area.

·         Avoid surgical procedure.

 

In between your therapeutic massage sessions here are 2 exercises to help stretch the muscles and tendons to help lessen the pain.

 

   1. Reach straight forward with both arms, shoulders relaxed, keep arms straight with palms facing each other, put thumbs into the palm of your hands and cover the thumb with your 4 fingers. Continuing to hold your arms straight, move only wrist in a downward motion, not your arm.  You will feel a stretch in the tendons from your thumbs to your wrists. Hold this position for approximately 8 seconds and repeat 3-4 times.  Do this approximately 3-4 times several times per day.

 

   2. Take your hand (one at a time) and position your palm flat against the wall straight in front of you with your fingers and thumb pointing downward. Take your other hand and gently pull the thumb from the hand on the wall upward. You will feel a stretch. Hold this position for approximately 8 seconds and repeat 3-4 times.  Do this approximately 3-4 times several times per day

 

~ Enjoy good health ~